KAA says workers strike is illegal

Stranded passengers at JKIA due to ongoing go-slow by the airport staff over the planned Adani lease. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) maintains that the ongoing strike by some of its members is contrary to an existing court order.

In a statement, the acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Henry Ogoye said that the strike is illegal and that they are doing everything possible to ensure normalcy has resumed. 

"Early this morning (Wednesday), a section of unionisable airport workers at JKIA engaged in a strike contrary to the court order case number ELRCC/E648/2024," KAA said.

The Authority has also apologised for the inconvenience caused, stating that as of 7:00 am, minimal operations had resumed.

"Meanwhile, we encourage passengers to contact their respective airlines to confirm their flight status."

The statement comes after hundreds of passengers were stranded at the busy airport after several flights were canceled while others experienced delayed.

COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli is currently meeting with the leadership of the aviation workers union.

Addressing the press earlier at JKIA, Atwoli blamed the government for failing to engage the workers in good time while blaming some state officers for being arrogant.

"The government was in a position to contain this strike way back. They ignored and now we can see the results. We have government officials who are just arrogant and are not ready to listen to the workers,"  he said. 

The aviation workers are protesting the planned takeover of JKIA by Adani Group.